dallas hospital from complications of cancer. he was best known as larger than life texan j.r. ewing on the popular nighttime soap opera "dallas." he first became known to a national audience in the 1960s playing an astronaut living with a jeanie in "i dream of jeannie." fans stopped by the real south fork ranch today to pay tribute to hagman and the character for which he was so very famous. >> watching it, every single one. my parent, me, my sister. we couldn't wait for "dallas." >> a very sad day, but nonetheless, it's just very amazing how the show has endured for so long. and it just will live forever. >> hagman had health setbacks in the 1990s when he suffered from cirrhosis of the liver. in 1995, he received a liver transplant that saved his life. after that, hagman used his celebrity to raise awareness of organ donation. hagman was 81 years old. >>> training for a triathlon is a huge commitment. and for most triathletes, it is really about competing. but for other triathletes, there is a different motivation. garvin thomas introduces us to an east bay man with a unique inspirati

tv history. larry hagman played j.r. ewing on the landmark primetime soap opera, dallas. >> don't come in the closer. >> he was the con knifing elder son and businessman that everyone loved to hate. >> i'm going to bring bobby down. i'm going to cut him out if i have to destroy ewing oil to do it. >> hagman is the only cast member to appear in all 35 episodes from 1978 to 1991. >> what are you doing here? >> just this year hagman reprized his signature role. >> i just came by congratulate yaw. tnt launched its own version of dallas. at one time hagman was auctioning off some memorabilia. >> you have more hats up for auction than most women have shoes. >> atthe people know you collect hats, they send you halts from all over the world. >> hagman was was a self-confessed heavy drinker and smoker. he needed a liver transplant and then worked for the great american smokeout. >> i know that -- they call me and say, hey ex-stopped smoking because i sow you. >> come on, jeanie. >> did you say something, master? >> being barbara eden's master was hagman's first big break. it still airs in

made j.r. ewing come to life. he died yesterday in dallas, surrounded by family and by friends. nbc's kristen dahlgren takes a look back at hagman's life and his career. >> i was with her all alone -- >> reporter: for a time he was the most famous actor in the world. >> thanks to j.r. >> reporter: the subject of the biggest cliff-hanger ever. [ gunshot ] the question who shot j.r. catapulted larry hagman into tv history. for more than a decade hagman was the character audiences couldn't get enough of. the wicked, scheming j.r. ewing. the 81-year-old was reprising his role as j.r. in the tnt reboot of "dallas." >> you're not a kinder, gentler version of yourself? >> oh, hardly. >> reporter: along with family, his co-stars were at his side when hagman died at a dallas hospital friday. finally succumbing to the throat cancer he'd been battling. in a statement to nbc co-star linda grey said "larry hagman was my best friend for 35 years. he was the pied piper of life and brought joy to everyone he knew. the world was a brighter place because of him." on the site of the real-life south fork

j.r. ewing a proper send-off. larry hagman died yesterday. he had filmed several episodes already of season two. it was in the 1980's that he created his legendary character. >> i don't understand why you think she's changed. hey! wait! stop! >> hagman shared few streets with his nasty alter ego. he was a heavy drinker and had a liver transplant after his drinking destroyed his liver. he gave it up and later gave up smoking when he was diagnosed with cancer. hagman told the new york sometimes that he wanted his remains to be, quote, spread over a field and have marijuana and wheat planted and harvested in a couple of years and then have a big marijuana cake for 200 to 300 people. then people would eat a little of larry. in his own words. and larry hagman was 81. >>> all right. it's hard to top that. come on. you can do it. >> let's talk weather. let's make a complete transition over. hopefully you're getting outside. it's gorgeous weather so far and looks like it's going to be that way again tomorrow. temperatures, a little on the chilly side. we've also got fog creeping in along the

oil man j.r. ewing on a dallas." exterior of the ranch stood in for the ewing home. larry hagman was a texas native. he died in dallas, surrounded by his fav. >>> in the south bay, firefighters raised money for a cause that is close to their hearts. >> thank you. happy holidays! >> every year the fill the boots campaign raises money for the san josi firefighters burn foundation. the fund was originally set up to help injured firefighters, but with improvements to firefighters safety, organizers say it grown to include young burn victims as well. >> we do an annual kids burn camp so kids with visible scars can be with kids like them. >> the volunteers expected to raise up to $6,000 for the burn foundation. >>> late word of a fire in bangladesh that has claimed at least a hundred lives. >> plus, outrage is growing in egypt, the police alliance being formed ahead of dualing protests set for next week. >>> plus, take a look at. this there he goes. the camel on the lam and the chaos that ensued after the animal made its escape . >>> outrage is twoing in egypt tonight offer an apparent power

j.r. ewing and he was a texas native. he died on friday surrounded by his family. >>> crime is up in neighborhoods hit hardest by superstorm sandy. burglaries have spiked and rockaways in long island averaged two burblies a -- burglaries a day. there was one reported in a week's time last year. >>> they became instant santas this weekend. they recovered $2 million in toys and other goods stolen from a canadian salvation army. they found the items in a commercial warehouse in northwest toronto. there was so much stuff, they needed three big rigs to haul away the merchandise. in toronto, they have been fired over the incident and no criminal charges have been fired. >> they are asking drivers to fill the boot. > >> thank you. >> happy holidays. >>> firefighters collected donations from drivers yesterday on the expressway. it is all part of the campaign for the san jose firefighter burn foundation. >> we do an annual kid's burn camp so kids with visible burn scars can be with kids just like them and they don't have to worry about being teased. >> the fill the boot campaign runs lieu the